Dr. Thomas L. Mills, Lafourche Parish
Submitted by Mike Miller
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Dr. Thomas L. Mills
Lafourche Parish, Louisiana
Dr. Thomas Lilley Mills, Wilderness Place, Lindsay, La., who is one
of the most prominent farmers of East Baton Rouge parish, is a native of
Louisiana, born in the parish of La Fourche, May 6, 1835. He was
educated in Thibodeaux and the private schools of East Baton Rouge. At
the age of nineteen he began the study of medicine under Dr. J. W.
Jones, of Jackson, La., and remained under his instruction two years.
In the autumn of 1855 he entered the medical department of the
University of Louisiana (now Tulane university) and was graduated in
March, 1857, doing credit both to himself and his preceptor. He was
married in 1859 to Miss Mary L. Young, a daughter of the late R. T.
Young, a man widely known for his ability and strict integrity. Mr.
Young was of a noted Virginia famil
y, and could boast of a long line of
noble ancestors. He was a member of the constitutional convention of
1879. He was the largest land owner and planter in the parish. Seven
children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Mills--four sons and three daughters,
all of whom are living. His plantation, "The Wilderness," contains 750
acres, the principal part of which is in cotton. In addition to this he
owns a half interest in 2,000 acres, the other partner being his
brother, Capt. G. C. Mills, [see sketch elsewhere, E. Baton Rouge
Parish]. In 1865 Dr. Mills embarked in the mercantile trade, which be
continued four years, but he abandoned this industry and now devotes his
time wholly to farming. In 1872 and 1873 he represented his people in
the legislature, which was known as the "McEnery's" legislature. For
four years he was a member of the police jury of his parish. Dr. Mills
was on the organization of the "Louisiana Central Farmers association,"
elected vice-president, and afterward elected its president, serving two
terms, and is now vice-president of the Sixth Congressional district of
the State Farmers' association of Louisiana, which meets annually in
different cities of the state. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, in
which he has held many important offices, and has represented Plains
lodge, No. 135, twice in the Grand lo
dge, discharging the duties of this
position with honor to himself and his home fraternity. He is a member
of the Plains Presbyterian church, near his home, one of the oldest and
most noted in the state. Dr. Mills is a man who has given impetus to
agriculture in his own community. He has made a success of his
undertakings, and while the profession of medicine lost a practitioner,
the farmers of the parish were strongly re-enforced by the addition to
their ranks of a man with his energy, push and perseverance.
From Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, volume 2, p.
258.
Submitted by Mike Miller
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